Automatic flue-blower



(No Model.)

A. RAPINER. AUTOMATIC PLUE BLOWER.

Patented Oct. 1, 1895.

M rze wees.

I 'ANDRDN B.GRANAM.PHUTO-UTHQVWASHING'ION,BL

AUGUSTUS RAFINER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATlC BLUE-BLOWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 547,287, dated October 1, 1895. Application filed November 189 Serial No. 527,943- (No model.)

To on whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS RAFINER, of Kansas City, Jackson county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Flue-Blowers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to flue or pipe blowers, more particularly to those employing steam; and the object of the invention is to produce a device of this character which is easily manipulated to permit the steam under pressure to escape and which automatically closes and prevents the escape of the steam when not in action; furthermore, to produce 7 a device of this character which is simple,

strong, durable, and inexpensive of construction.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a flue-blower embodying my invention as applied operativelyto the end of a flue or pipe. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal section of a slightly-modified form of said flue-blower,

shell externally is provided with an angular enlargement 6 at the end adjacent to the cone, and is externally screw-threaded adjacent thereto to receive the ring or band 7, also angular externally, which clamps the washer 8, right-angle shaped in cross-section, firmly upon the tubular extension 3 and against the end of the shell or sleeve 5, so that leakage of the steam will be prevented. The shell or duced diametrically and is externally threaded, as shown at 9, and said external threads are engaged by the internally-threaded tubular extension or spherical shell 10. Said shell 10 is also internally threaded at its opposite end to engage the pipe 11, connected to the steamsupply, (not shown,) and is formed angular externally at the same end, as shown at 12. Extending diametrically of said spherical shell 10 is a cross-bar 13, provided with a central guide-aperture 14. Extending axially of the tubular extension 3 and secured at its front end rigidly and firmly in the apex ofthe cone is a stem 15, which is formed with a thread 16 and with an extension 17, which projects through the guide-aperture 14, and mounted upon the threaded portion of said stem is a diskvalve 18, which is adapted, when the flue-blower is in operation, to be held by the pressure of the steam firmly against thevalve-seat 19, formed in the adjacent end of the shell or sleeve 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. When said valve is in this position, the base of the cone is some distance from the band 7 and the opposite side of the valve is the same distance from the cross-bar 13 of the shell 10, so as to permit the valve to be moved away from its seat when properly manipulated, as will be hereinafter explained. I

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that I dispense with the intermediate shell or sleeve 5 and employ in lieu thereof an equivalent consisting of the tubular extension 20 of the shell 10, and this extension carries the outwardly-projecting pins or screws 21, which engage longitudinal slots 22 in a sleeve or extension 23, which projects from the cone in lieu of the tubular extension 3. With. this construction it will be apparent that it is not necessary to employ a packing-rin g to prevent the escape of the steam. The longitudinal movement of the cone and valvein this instance is limited in one direction by the valve impinging upon its seat and in the other by the end of the sleeve extension 23 coming in contact with the shoulder 24, projecting externally'sof the shell v1O. It will be apparent that the longitudinal movement or throw of sleeve 5 at its opposite end is preferably re- 5 ICO the valve is controlled by its position upon the threaded portion- 16 of the valve-stem, and for convenience in adjusting the valve it is provided with the radial arms 25, by which it is grasped when operated. In practical operation the flue or pipe is cleaned by inserting the end of the cone therein, as illus trated in Fig. 1. Sufficient pressure is then brought to bear upon the pipe 11 to overcome the pressure of the steam upon the valve and move said pipe, shell 10, and shell or sleeve 5 forward until the band 7 comes in contact with the base of the cone and the seat has been moved a corresponding distance away from the valve. Immediately the valve-seat has been opened, as described, the steam under pressure passes around the valve and escapes through the apertures 2 into the fine or pipe and cleans the same in the ordinary manner.

It will be understood, of course, that the base of the cone must be larger diametrically than the flue or pipe to accomplish the end in view and that the apertures in said cone must be located at a point diametrically smaller than the passage of the said flue or pipe.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the valve-stem 15 projects beyond and externally of the cone 1 and carries a brush 26, of steel wire or any other suitable material, upon its front end, which is of greater diameter than the bone. This construction is employed when itis desired to clean a flue or pipe larger internally than the external diameter of the base of the cone, but slightly smaller than the diameter of the said brush.

In operation the brush is introduced within the end of the flue of the pipe and offers sufficient frictional resistance to the pressure brought to bear upon the pipe 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow to open the valve and allow the steam under pressure to escape through the apertures 2 within the fine or pipe, so that the said flue or'pipe is subjected to the action of the steam as well as to the scraping action of the brush. It will be apparent with this construction that the cone will be the same in either case.

may be mounted rigidly upon the valve-stem, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or may be mounted loosely upon the same, as the effect In fact, in the last-mentioned case the device would operate just as well if the cone was made an integral part of the extension of the shell 10.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A flue-blower, comprising a hollow cone having apertures and a tubular extension, a shell or sleeve embracing said tubular extension and provided with a valve-seat, a second shell engaging the first-mentioned shell and provided with a cross-bar having a guide-aperture, a pipe connected to a steam-supply en- .1 gaged by and carrying said last-mentioned shell, a valve-stein carried by the cone and '1 projecting through the guide-aperture of said cross-bar and threaded, and a valve internally I threaded and mounted upon the threaded portion of said valvestem and adapted by the pressure of the steam to fit upon and close he valve seat opening,- substantially as set I Orth.

2. A flue-blower, comprising a hollow cone having apertures and a tubular extension, a

sion and provided with a valve-seat, a second shell secured to the first mentioned shell and provided with a cross-bar having a guide-aperture, a pipe connected to the steam-supply secured to the opposite end of the said last-mentioned shell, a valve-stem extending through the guideapertu-reof said crossbar at one end and projecting at its opposite end beyond the front end of the cone, a valve mounted upon said stem adjacent tothe valve-seat, and a brush mounted upon the front end of said stem of diameter exceeding the base of the cone, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUSTUS RAFINER. Witnesses:

G. Y. THORPE, M. R. REMLEY.

shell or sleeve embracing said tubular exten- 

